Apparatus for surface-treating blast furnace bells and the like



March 4, 1969 J. 5. OVERDECK APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATING BLAST FURNACE BELLS AND THE LIKE Sheet of 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1965 w v mm 5. Mb 0w- 1 a f th "I E" H, b w I. V V 99 v M "W m n ma 3 9 91---: 9\.u. Km 8. L mm M mm H H QR bk 0 J 3 mm W M .3 E o 2 Q o 90 w wv am 3 E NR N wn wk mv mv A an an X. 3 3 mm m vw 3 X 3 mm wm vn S I ww m: vw 9w an mm mm H? H E A Harney March 4, 1969 Filed Dec.

J. S. OVERDECK APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATING BLAST FURNACE BELLS AND THE LIKE INVENTOR. JOHN S. OVERDECK Maw Altarney United States Patent 3,430,389 APPARATUS FOR SURFACE-TREATING BLAST FURNACE BELLS AND THE LIKE John S. Overdeck, 425 McKinley St, Hobart, Ind. 46342 Filed Dec. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 517,656 US. C]. 5134 Int. Cl. B24b 7/00, 9/00; B23b 3/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to metal working and more particularly to an improved apparatus for surface-treating large conical metal objects such as blast furnace bells and the like.

It is customary to surface-treat a blast furnace bell prior to its installation in a blast furnace so as to form an abrasion-resistant covering layer on the outer surface thereof. The abrasion-resistant covering lengthens the service life of the hell by protecting its outer surface from the abrasive burden materials which are charged into the distributor hopper of the furnace and pass over the bell during operation of the furnace. The abrasion-resistant covering usually consists of beads of hard metal welded on at least the lower half of the outer bell surface in contiguous helical rows.

Prior to my invention, considerable difficulty was encountered in applying the abrasion-resistant surface to blast furnace bells due to the fact that the bells are difficult to handle because of their large size and bulk. Not only was it difficult to mount the bells so that the beads of hard metal could be applied thereto, but it was also difiicult to move or manipulate either the bells or the welding head to produce uniform beads of hard metal on the outer bell surface.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide an improved surface-treating apparatus whereby abrasion-resistant surfaces can be formed on the outer surface of a blast furnace hell or other heavy and bulky conical object in a manner which is rapid, efficient, and safe.

It is a more specialized object of my invention to provide apparatus for surface-treating a blast furnace bell or other conical object which includes a head adapted to be rotatably mounted on the apex of a fixedly supported bell; at least one guide arm pivoted by one end to the head and extending downwardly therefrom over the outer surface of the bell; and a tool carrier mounted on the guide arm for longitudinal movement therealong.

As a corollary to the above object, it is another object of my invention to provide apparatus of the character 3,430,389 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 described including driving means carried by the head for rotating it and moving the tool carrier along the guide arm; and in which a grinding tool or welding head can be alternately mounted on the tool carrier.

The foregoing and other objects will become. more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing the apparatus of the invention in position for surface-treating a blast furnace bell;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section showing a welding head mounted on the tool carrier of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the rotating head of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 1.

The apparatus of the invention includes, essentially, a base plate for supporting the article to be surface-treated, means for maintaining the article in a fixed upright position, and means for interchangeably supporting multiple grinders and/or welding heads for rotation around the periphery of the article. The welding heads are placed diametrically opposite each other so that heat is applied to opposite sides of the article during the weld deposition of metal thereon. This arrangement allows the article to expand uniformly and not warp out of round.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 designates a supporting base plate on the upper surface of which are formed a plurality of U-shaped grooves 4 which extend in concentric circles around the center of the plate. At least four pedestal blocks 6 are arranged in diametrically opposed positions on the top of the plate 2 and secured thereto by bolts 8. As best shown in FIGURE 1, a blast furnace bell B to be surfaced is supported on the pedestal blocks 6 in a fixed upright position with its large end down. The bell B is adjusted centrally with respect to the grooves 4 and then held in position by means of adjusting screws 10 which are threaded into the pedestal blocks 6.

A shaft 12 is fitted in a bore 14 in the apex of the bell B and is rigidly secured therein by means of a key 16. A cup-shaped ring gear sleeve 18 having a ring gear 20 integral with the rim thereof is mounted over the top of the shaft 12 which projects upwardly from the apex of the bell. The shaft 12 projects upwardly through the sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 is fixedly attached to the apex of the bell by means of a key 22. A cup-shaped head 24 having an integral circumferential flange 25 around the rim thereof is mounted centrally over and substantially surrounding ring gear sleeve 18, and is rotatably secured to the upper end of the shaft 12 by means of bearings 26 and 28, and a lock nut 30. A conventional electric hotbar assembly 32 is mounted on the projecting upper end of the shaft 12 and functions as a source of electrical current for energizing a drive motor 34 carried on the flange 25 of the head 24 as well as other purposes as will become apparent. The shaft of the motor 34 projects downwardly through a suitable opening in the flange 25 and is provided with a pinion 38 which meshes with the ring gear 20.

A pair of guide rails 40 are attached to the head 24 in diametrically opposed relation to one another. The upper end of each of the guide rails 40 is fitted into a notch 42 in the flange 25 and projects upwardly therefrom into an angular slot 44 in a block 46 which is rigidly fastened to the flange 25 astride each of the notches 42. The upper end of each of the guide rails 40 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 48 therethrough for receiving a roller pin 50, the ends of which project beyond the sides of the arm and rest on the upper surface of the flange 25 and in a slot 52 in the bottom of each of the blocks 46. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the pins 50 are confined longitudinally by the sides of the slots 52 but can roll in the slots 48 and 52 longitudinally thereof.

A longitudinally extending T-slot 54 is formed on the upper surface of each of the guide rails 40 adjacent the upper ends thereof for slidably receiving the head of an adjusting screw 56, the shaft of which is threaded through a keeper plate 80 on each of the blocks 46, as best shown in FIGURE 1. Turning of the adjusting screw 56 adjusts the upper ends of the guide rails 40 toward and away from the center of the head 24.

The lower end of each of the guide rails 40 is adjustably mounted on and supported by a roller truck or carriage 58. Each of the roler trucks 58 includes a frame 60 for receiving the lower end of the guide rail, and an adjusting screw 62 which is threaded through the frame 60 and the bottom of the guide rail 40 so that rotation of the adjusting screw will move the guide rail end toward or away from the bell supported on the pedestal blocks 6. Each of the trucks includes a roller formed with a flange 63 which fits in and is guided by one of the grooves 4 in the plate 2.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, a tool carrier 64 is mounted for slidable movement along each of the guide rails 40 by means of a screw shaft 66 which is journaled on the guide rail and is threaded through the tool carrier 64. Each of the screw shafts 66 is supported by bearing blocks 68 and thrust collars 70. A motor 72 is mounted on each of the guide rails 40 connected to the screw shafts 66 for rotating the same. The motors 72 are connected with and receive current from the electric hot-bar assembl 32.

The tool carriers 64 are adapted to interchangeably carry conventional grinding wheel-and-motor units 74, as best shown in FIGURE 1, or welding heads 76, as shown in FIGURE 2. The welding heads 76 are commercially available and may be of the type manufactured by Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and designated Lincolnweld LAF3 Welder.

In operation, for surface-treating the blast furnace B, the pedestal blocks 6 are bolted to the base plate 2 properly positioned to be engaged by the rim of the bell. The bell is then mounted, large end down, in upright position on top of the pedestal blocks 6 and final adjustment of the hell with respect to the center of the plate 2 is then made by means of the adjusting screws 10. The shaft 12 is then inserted into the bore 14 at the apex of the bell and secured therein by means of the key 16. The ring gear sleeve 18 is then placed over the apex of the hell with the end of the shaft 12 projecting upwardly of the sleeve 18. The ring gear sleeve 18 is then secured to the bell by means of the key 22. Next, the head 24, containing bearings 26 and 28 and motor 34 with pinion 38, is mounted on and secured to the shaft 12 by means of lock nut 30. When thus positioned on the shaft 12, the head 24 closely surrounds, but does not touch, the ring gear sleeve 18. The upper ends of the guide arms 40 with the roller pins 50 inserted in the slots 48 thereof are fitted in the notches 42 of the head flange 25 with the ends of the pins resting on the portions of the flange surface 25 adjacent the notches 42. The blocks 46 are then fitted over the ends of the guide rails 40 and secured to the flange 25 by means of bolts 78. The upper ends of the guide rails 40 are adjustable toward and away from the end of the notch 42 in which the rail end is fitted by means of the adjusting screws 56, which are disposed with their heads fitted into the T-slots 54 for sliding movement therealong, and their shafts threaded through the keeper plates 80, one of which is mounted on the outer end of each of the blocks 46. The projecting end of each screw 56 is preferabl formed with a square head so as to be capable of being turned with a wrench to adjust the upper ends of the rails 40 toward and away from the ends of the notches 42.

The lower ends of the guide rails 40 are adjustably mounted on the trucks 58 by means of the adjusting screws 62. Rotation of the screws 62 effects fine adjustment of the lower ends of the rails 40 toward or away from the bell B. If more than fine adjustment of the lower ends of rails 40 is required, the trucks 58 can be relocated in another groove 4 nearer or farther from the center of the plate 2.

After the guide rails have been mounted as described above, a grinding wheel-and-motor unit 74 is removably attached to each tool carrier 64 and final adjustment of the grinding wheels relative to the bell surface is made by means of the adjusting screws 56 and 62. It will be noted that a conductor cable or wire (not shown) connects the motors of each of the units 74 with the electric I hot-bar assembly 32.

The surface of the bell is then prepared for application of the beads of weld metal thereon by actuating the grinding motors and the drive motor 34. This causes the grinding wheels to grind and clean the surface of the bell as the head 24 is rotated by motor 34 and the guide arms 40 travel around the bell. The screw shafts 66 are driven while the guide rails 40 are rotated about the bell to move the carriages 64 along the guide rails so that the grinding wheels contact the entire load-bearing area of the bell which constitutes approximately the lower two-thirds of its surface.

After the bell surface has thus been ground, the apparatus is stopped while the grinding wheel-and-motor units 74 are removed from the tool carriers 64 and the welding heads 76 are mounted in their place. Inasmuch as the welding heads 76 are of conventional design and are commercially available, their mode of operation is not described except to state that they deposit a bead of hard weld metal on the surface of the bell as they are rotated therearound. The screw shafts 66 are driven while the welding heads are operating so that the entire load-bearing area of the bell surface will be covered with the abrasion-resistant beads of hard weld metal.

If desired, the surface of the bell may be preheated in its peripheral areas which are to receive the abrasionresistant surface prior to the application of the weld metal to the bell surface by the welding heads. This heating, which may be continued through the Welding operation or may be intermittent, is preferably continued after deposition of the weld metal has been completed so that the hard metal deposited on the bell surface may be as uniform as possible and any strains which are set up during the welding operation will be relieved.

After the abrasion-resistant surface has been thus applied, the welding heads are removed from the tool carriers and are replaced by grinding whecl-and-motor units and finish grinding of the weld metal is done.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for surface-treating a conical member comprising a head journaled axially adjacent the apex of said member, means for producing relative rotation between said head and said member, a guide arm adjustably attached by one end to said head and extending downwardly therefrom above the surface of said member, a tool-mounting carriage mounted for movement along said arm, a wheeled carriage attached to the lower end of References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1920 Robbins 82Q.4 9/1931 Steinmayer 824 2,348,186 5/1944 Bashore 824 FOREIGN PATENTS 260,886 10/1923 Italy.

OTHEL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

